Forgetfulness, (peri)menopause or early dementia?

Are you worried about your brain health?

1. Forgetfulness that can be "normal"

Everyone forgets things sometimes: where you left your keys, the name of your favourite actor,...

What fits with this?

• Stress, lack of sleep, busyness, anxiety
• Can also be amplified by hormonal changes (e.g. perimenopause)

2. (Peri)menopause-related forgetfulness

(Peri)menopause is a period during which many symptoms can occur (see also: what every woman from age 30 should know about menopause): hot flashes, poor sleep, mood swings, anxiety, irritability, bladder infections, reduced sexual satisfaction, joint pain, ...

Many women experience the following mental symptoms during (peri)menopause: brain fog, less sharp thinking or difficulty concentrating.

Typical characteristics

• Fluctuating concentration and memory complaints
• Forgetfulness that is mainly related to poor sleep, night sweats, hot flashes, or mood swings
• Difficulty finding words ("on the tip of your tongue")
• Non-progressive: it usually doesn't keep getting worse, but comes and goes
• Multi-tasking becomes more difficult

3. Early dementia

This involves a progressive, slowly increasing memory disorder. Women with young-onset dementia more often have problems with spatial orientation, communication problems and behavioural changes in the early stages.

Alarming signals

• Loss of sense of time, becoming disoriented
• Changes in character or behaviour
• Loss of function: problems with daily tasks (administration, cooking, losing routes)
• No longer knowing what everyday objects are for
• Unable to store new information
• Complaints increase over time

What is less typical of dementia

• Brain fog that fluctuates
• Memory that returns when stress/pressure decreases
• Only "word-finding problems"

4. When to see your doctor?

Be sure to consult if you notice that:

• Complaints are increasing or others notice it too
• You forget things that hinder your normal functioning
• You get lost, completely lose track of appointments, or can no longer perform tasks
• You are unsure whether it is hormones or something else

Your doctor can perform simple cognitive tests, blood tests, and refer you if necessary.

If you are worried, contact your (family) doctor. Hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle adjustments can relieve many symptoms of (peri)menopause.

Do you have other menopause complaints? Read more in our article about what every woman should know about menopause.

This information is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. It does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider. Always consult your (family) doctor if you have questions or concerns about your health or treatment.